Penny Riordan writes that the management representative is critical to
the QMS but notes that many people appointed to this position lack the
full competence, awareness and training for all the tasks required for
the management rep to perform and/or oversee. This is a contributing factor
to Top Managements lack of support for and commitment to the QMS
in many organizations. Yet, it must be seen as an opportunity to continually
improve the QMSs effectiveness, and Riordan identifies the skills
a management rep needs and discusses one approach her organization has
developed to help prepare management reps for their full roles.